Basketball

Wildcats drop to fourth in South Division after loss at Gulf Coast

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College had just a brief stay in the top spot of the South Division men’s basketball standings after dropping an 82-70 decision to Mississippi Gulf Coast Thursday night at Perkinston.

The loss gave the Bulldogs a regular-season sweep of the Wildcats and dropped PRCC, now 14-7 overall and 8-4 in the division, to the No. 4 spot in the scramble for one of the division’s four berths in the MACJC State Tournament.

Gulf Coast jumped out to an early 18-8 lead, and kept the Wildcats at bay throughout the rest of the game.

Wildcats take over top spot in South Division with clutch win at Jones

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College claimed the top spot in the South Division Monday, completing a regular-season sweep of archrival Jones County with a gutsy 85-82 victory at Ellisville.

The Wildcats and Bobcats are tied for first place in the division at 8-3, but the series sweep gives PRCC the tiebreaker advantage as both teams vie for berths in the MACJC State Tournament.

PRCC’s sophomore trio of Darrlyn Willis, Cortez Mitchell and William Brown combined for 64 points to carry the Wildcats to victory.

Wildcats cruise past Hinds to stay tied for second place in South Division

POPLARVILLE – Darrlyn Willis continued his stellar play Thursday night, leading Pearl River Community College to a convincing 87-61 victory over Hinds in a South Division basketball doubleheader at Marvin R. White Coliseum.

The Lady Wildcats were not as fortunate, as a big fourth quarter comeback fell short in a 61-55 defeat.

Willis, this week’s MACJC Men’s Player of the Week, scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Wildcats improved to 13-6 overall and 7-3 in the division. PRCC is tied with Mississippi Gulf Coast for second place in the South, behind Jones County.

Wildcats claim big victory in South Division

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College split a South Division basketball doubleheader against Copiah-Lincoln on Monday at Wesson.

Co-Lin used a big third quarter to muscle past the Lady Wildcats 84-43, but the PRCC men rolled to a big victory over the Wolves 70-56.

The Wildcats got another vintage performance from sophomore power forward Darryln Willis, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds. Cortez Mitchell added 13 points, and Teddy Scott had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

PRCC’s Willis named MACJC Player of the Week

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College forward Darryln Willis has been named as Men’s Basketball Player of the Week by the Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges for the week of Jan. 25-31.

Willis, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Madison, Wisc., scored 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 79-68 victory over Meridian, and had 24 points and 12 rebounds in a 75-67 loss to Southwest.

Pearl River teams falter in South Division clash against Southwest

POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College suffered a big setback Thursday night, dropping a South Division basketball doubleheader against Southwest at Marvin R. White Coliseum.

The shorthanded Lady Wildcats gave a valiant effort, but their upset bid fell just short in a 46-44 loss, and the Wildcats succumbed to a 3-point barrage in a 75-67 defeat, falling out of a tie for the division lead.

East Central sweeps South Division doubleheader from PRCC

POPLARVILLE – The Pearl River Community College found the road difficult Thursday night as both of its basketball teams went down to defeat at the hands of East Central in a South Division doubleheader at Decatur.

The Lady Wildcats fell behind 30-10 after the first quarter and never recovered in a 61-47 loss, and the PRCC men faded down the stretch in an 80-72 defeat.

Lady Wildcats rally to beat Gulf Coast; Wildcats drop OT thriller

POPLARVILLE – The Pearl River Community College women played one of their best games of the season Tuesday night, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat Mississippi Gulf Coast 60-57 in a South Division game at M.R. White Coliseum.

However, the PRCC men were unable to follow suit, as they dropped a 105-97 overtime thriller, snapping the Wildcats’ seven-game winning streak.

The Lady Wildcats overcame an eight-point deficit, outscoring Gulf Coast 16-11 in the fourth quarter in a contest that saw 11 lead changes and eight ties.

PRCC names Oney as men’s basketball coach

Coach Chris Oney POPLARVILLE – Pearl River Community College has confirmed Chris Oney as its new head men’s basketball coach.

Oney’s hiring as the permanent head coach was approved by the PRCC Board of Trustees at its January meeting on Tuesday. Oney replaces longtime head coach Richard Mathis, who retired earlier this season for health reasons.

PRCC teams victorious in return to South Division action

POPLARVILLE – The Pearl River Community College basketball teams were winners in their return to South Division play Monday night, sweeping a pair games from Hinds at Utica

The PRCC women pulled away in the fourth quarter to post their fourth consecutive victory by a 65-48 score, and the Wildcats followed by winning their sixth straight, 81-65 over the Eagles.